A life marked by insecurity
At the age of 80, Pepi has devoted her life to fashion and clothing industry, but she is now facing a situation that threatens her stability. For a decade, he has been living in a flat in Sants, a space that has considered his home. Although he has kept all the rent payments up to date, the property has decided to remove it, leaving it in a desperate situation.
The dilemma of the house
Pepi can deal with a rent of up to 800 euros, but has not found any appropriate alternative within this budget. Social services have not considered their situation as vulnerable, as it receives a retirement pension that, according to administrative criteria, does not classify it as such. This has limited the help options you could receive.
Inaccessible alternatives
Social services have proposed two solutions to him: to move to a hostel or a geriatric hostel, but the costs associated with these options exceed what they can afford. Pepi, with a pension that does not cover basic needs, is trapped between administrative rules and their daily reality.
Community mobilization
In the face of this injustice, the Sants Housing Group has organized an action to occupy the Social Services headquarters on Numancia Street. Activists have entered the offices with the aim of forcing a meeting with those in charge to address the problem that Pepi faces. Their demand is clear: they need an immediate solution for her.
The change of property and its consequences
The situation was complicated when the floor owner died and the heirs decided to sell the property or allocate it to a clean. Pepi has been trapped in a limbo, with a period of eviction set for July 2023, without being able to find a home that adapts to his needs.
A life of distress
Since the beginning of this conflict, Pepi has experienced an increase in stress, at the point that he could not sleep more than three hours each night. The uncertainty about his future and the lack of alternatives have left him in a state of constant concern, reflecting a reality that affects many older people in his situation.
Reflections on the current situation
Pepi’s story is not an isolated case, but a reflection of the difficulties that many older people face in the current context of housing. Its struggle for a decent space reminds us of the importance of community solidarity and the need for reforms in housing policies to guarantee the right to housing suitable for all.
